MONKEYS. 25

as indefinite as the translation; it is also an unsettled and
disputed point, what was the exact locality from which the
animal in question was brought.

The situation both of Tarshish, and Ophir so often men-
tioned in connection with it, is greatly disputed by the
learned. The latter has been variously placed on the western
coast of Arabia, the eastern coast of Africa, the Persian
Gulf, and the coast and islands of Asia; but the general
conclusion seems to be in favour of Sofala, partly from a
similarity in name, and also that all the articles mentioned
could be procured on the coast, or in the interior. Purchas
says that “ivory, apes, gems, and precious woods (which
grow in the wild places of Tebe, within Sofala), and much
fine black wood (ebony) grows on that coast, and is thence
carried to India. As for peacocks, I saw none there, but
there must needs be some, for I have seen the Cafers wear
their plumes on their heads. As there is a store of fine
gold, so also is there of fine silver, in Chicona, where are
rich mines.” It seems much in favour of this idea that the
coast of Africa below the Gulf was the nearest country where
the fleet of Solomon could procure, as native produce, the
commodities with which it was freighted ; accordingly this
opinion has many supporters; but there are yet two alterna.